Kingdom of Gera | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1835–1887 | |||||||
 The five Oromo kingdoms of theGibe region | |||||||
| Capital | Chala (Chira) | ||||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||||
| Demonym(s) | Oromo | ||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||
| Donacho | |||||||
| History | |||||||
• Established | 1835 | ||||||
• Annexed byEthiopian Empire | 1887 | ||||||
| |||||||
TheKingdom of Gera was a kingdom in theGibe region ofEthiopia that emerged in the late 19th century. It shared its northern border with theKingdom of Gumma, its eastern border with theKingdom of Gomma, and was separated from theKingdom of Kaffa to the south by theGojeb River. With its capital at Chala (Later Chira), the Gera kingdom's territory corresponds approximately with the modernworeda ofGera.
The Kingdom of Gera was located in a basin surrounded with gently undulating hills, although extensive swampland existed in the northern hills. The population of this kingdom was estimated in 1880 to have been between 15,000 and 16,000.[1] The planting and harvesting ofcorn followed a different calendar in Gera from the other Gibe kingdoms; where the others planted in February and harvested in July, in Gera it was planted in April and harvested in August.Mohammed Hassen adds that Gera "was, and still is, the rich land of honey" and notes that Gera honey had a reputation as the finest honey in Ethiopia. Hassen lists eight kinds of honey cultivated in Gera, the best being theEbichaa ("dark") honey, from which was made amead known asdadhi, the drink of royalty and dignitaries in the Gibe region. "It is not surprising, therefore," Hassen concludes, "that the flavorsome and prestigiousEbichaa was a royal monopoly."[2]
Gera is also the location ofMount Ijersa, which theOromo regard as sacred. They believe thatGod will take his seat there at the time of theLast Judgement.[3]
Rulers of the kingdom held the royaltitle ofDonacho.[4]
According to Beckingham and Huntingford, there is evidence that the monarchy of Gera existed before theGreat Oromo migration in the 16th century.[5] However, according to Mohammed Hassen, Gera was the last of the Gibe kingdoms to come into existence, and was founded by Gunji, "a successful war leader who made himself king" around 1835, but died shortly afterwards.[6] This dynasty came to an end with the murder ofTulu Ganje by kingOncho of Gumma. A new one was founded byAbba Baso, who proved to be an unpopular ruler. He was later overthrown by his brotherAbba Rago and exiled toJimma.[7]
According to Trimingham, the kingdom enjoyed its greatest prosperity under kingAbba Magal, who had been converted toIslam, although a number of his subjects still professedChristianity. It unclear which Gibe king was responsible for this conversion: Trimingham attributes this achievement toAbba Jubir of Gumma; Mohammed Hassen gives the initial credit toAbba Bagibo ofLimmu-Ennarea, who offered to support Abba Magal in his fight for the throne if he allowed Muslim missionaries into his kingdom, and only later did Abba Jubir convert him.[8] On King Abba Magal's death, his wifeGenne Fa acted as regent for their son, both of whom became prisoners in Jimma when Gera was conquered byDejazmach Besha Abua in 1887.[9]
